Museum techniques

Abstract

With increasing reliance on digital imaging in medical education, the pathology museum has suffered a decline in importance. Nonetheless, organ demonstrations still hold value for teaching. Autopsy laboratories inevitably receive requests to demonstrate gross anatomy or pathology to students in the allied health sciences and even in the primary and secondary schools. When the autopsy permit allows, these uses of autopsy material should be welcomed. The pathology museum also serves as an important repository for hearts with developmental anomalies. The heart specimens can be used to teach clinicians and pathologists who are interested in congenital heart disease and,therefore, they are a priceless component of any pathology department. © 2009 Humana Press.